Collapsible scuba fin with cam lock feature and adjustable blades
Collapsible, adjustable scuba fin with a cam lock feature. The blades of the fin are set on an enclosed track in the foot plate which allows the blades to be extended to create a fin of variable surface area for different swimming conditions or retracted under the foot plate for walking. The blades can be locked in place by the cam lock which is attached to the foot plate by means of a screw and foot pocket by means of an adjustable pull lanyard. The foot pocket and heel hilt can be adjusted to accommodate feet and footwear of varying size, and style allowing a single fin to fit multiple individuals and requirements. A T-bolt slider set in the foot plate can be rotated or removed to access the space between the blades allowing for the clearing of debris.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/726,374, filed Nov. 14, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to watersport technology. More specifically, the invention concerns a collapsible scuba fin.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCurrently scuba fins are generally formed of a single piece of material of a fixed length. This creates extra bulk when not in use and inhibits normal land-based activities like walking or running because of the length of the blade extending past the toes.
Furthermore, different lengths of fin blade provide different benefits while swimming; a longer blade with more surface area provides more thrust but requires more effort to use, while a smaller blade provides less thrust but requires less effort. Swimmers may therefore wish to possess several different fins for a variety of swimming environments.
Finally, the foot pocket area of a fixed swim fin is not adjustable, meaning that different fins must be produced for different sizes of foot.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTPrevious patent applications for an adjustable fin, U.S. Patent No. US20100317246 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,382,543 B1, were granted for an adjustable fin apparatus that allowed the surface area of the blades to be adjusted. However, these previous blades have an open track allowing unwanted outward pivoting of the blades and also required three and five blades respectively. They did not allow the blades to be easily removed, and used a thumb screw system that did not allow for easy adjustment while wearing the fin. Furthermore, the construction did not allow for adjustment for different shoe sizes nor were they flexible enough to walk in easily with the blades retracted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the invention relates to an adjustable scuba fin apparatus that includes an adjustable pair of fin blades with fully enclosed tracks; and a cam lock adjustment system able to extend and retract the fin blades, setting variable lengths without the use of tools or excessive force by user. In one preferred embodiment, a T-Bolt Track and T-Bolt Slider mechanism lock the blades in place and allow their release for user defined adjustment without the use of tools or excessive force by user. In another preferred embodiment, the blades slide along a T-Bolt track on a foot plate. When this is the case, the adjustable scuba fin preferably further includes an adjustable height heel hilt attached with screws to the foot plate.
Alternatively, the adjustable scuba fin preferably further includes a foot pocket attached to the foot plate by adjustable straps. Still more preferably, the foot pocket is attached to the heel hilt by buckles. In yet another preferred embodiment wherein the blades slide along a T-Bolt track on a foot plate, the blades are locked in place by a cam lock system. When this is the case, the adjustable scuba fin further includes a foot pocket connected to the cam lock system. Still more preferably, the foot pocket is connected to the cam lock system by an adjustable pull lanyard. In still yet another preferred embodiment wherein the blades slide along a T-Bolt track on a foot plate, the foot plate contains a T-bolt slider which can be rotated to clear the space between the blades.
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout.
In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and which is shown, by way of illustration, several embodiments of the present invention. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The preferred embodiment is an adjustable fin 20 which a user can wear on the outside of appropriate footwear, generally a type of waterproof boot. The fin 20 can be adjusted for different sizes of feet and the blades 8, 9 can be extended to provide different swimming surfaces for different swimming situations.
Referring now to
As depicted in
The foot plate 14 is formed of polycarbonate and connects to the foot pocket 12 and heel hilt 13 to form the area in which the foot is inserted into the device. As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
The cam lock system 21 is depicted in
Although the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that various modifications, additions and alterations may be made to the invention by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. An adjustable scuba fin apparatus, comprising:
- an adjustable pair of fin blades each having a length and a track extending along the length said track comprised of a fully enclosed, substantially longitudinal elongated slot through each of the fin blades; and
- an adjustment system adapted to selectively allow the fin blades to extend and retract, said adjustment system having a fastening member combined with a foot plate, said fastening member inserted through the tracks and into a securing member, said fastening member adapted to ride within the tracks of the fin blades to guide the blades as they are retracted and extended.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a T-bolt slider is formed within a foot plate said T-bolt slider is adapted to receive a T-bolt which is combined with the fin blades so that the T-bolt slides within the T-bolt slider as the fin blades are extended and retracted.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the T-bolt slider has a head can be rotated to clear the space between the blades.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an adjustable height heel hilt attached with screws to the foot plate.
5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a foot pocket attached to the foot plate by adjustable straps.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the foot pocket is attached to the heel hilt by buckles.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a foot pocket connected to the cam lock system.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fastening member is a screw.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the securing member is a disk.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fin blades have edges and wherein the tracks are fully enclosed so that they are formed within the fin blades but do not extend to the edges of the fin blades.
11. An adjustable scuba fin apparatus, comprising:
- an adjustable pair of fin blades each having a length and a track extending along the length said track comprised of a fully enclosed, substantially longitudinal elongated slot through each of the fin blades;
- a cam lock adjustment system adapted to selectively lock the fin blades in place, said cam lock adjustment system comprising a fastening member combined with a foot plate, said fastening member inserted through the tracks and into a securing member, said fastening member adapted to ride within the tracks of the fin blades to guide the blades as they are retracted and extended; and
- a foot pocket connected to the foot plate and the cam lock system, wherein the foot pocket is connected to the cam lock system by an adjustable pull lanyard.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the fastening member is a screw.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the securing member is a disk.
14. An adjustable scuba fin apparatus, comprising:
- an adjustable pair of fin blades each having a length and a track extending along the length said track comprised of a fully enclosed, substantially longitudinal elongated slot through each of the fin blades;
- a cam lock adjustment system adapted to selectively lock the fin blades in place, said cam lock adjustment system comprising a screw combined with a foot plate and inserted through the tracks and into a disc, said screw adapted to ride within the tracks of the fin blades to guide the blades as they are retracted and extended;
- a track formed within the foot plate and adapted to receive a fastening member combined with the fin blades, wherein the fastening member slides within the track as the blades are retracted and extended.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the track is a T-bolt slider.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the fastening member is a T-bolt.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the T-bolt has a rotatable head having a first position wherein it is generally perpendicular to the T-bolt slider for securing the fin blades to the foot plate and a second position wherein it is generally parallel to the T-bolt slider for allowing the T-bolt head to fit through the T-bolt slider to separate the fin blades from the foot plate.
7793438 | September 14, 2010 | Busse et al. |
7997948 | August 16, 2011 | Fraser et al. |
8382543 | February 26, 2013 | Donahue |
20130090028 | April 11, 2013 | Mayer |
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 14, 2013
Date of Patent: Mar 15, 2016
Patent Publication Number: 20150133010
Inventors: Christopher Alan Donahue (Bethalto, IL), Daniel Boyd Cichlar, Jr. (Bethalto, IL), Paul Allen Robinson (Archer, FL)
Primary Examiner: S. Joseph Morano
Assistant Examiner: Anthony Wiest
Application Number: 14/080,262
International Classification: A63B 31/11 (20060101); A63B 31/16 (20060101);